sun.ergos, a company of theatre and...
TRANSCRIPT
ROBERT GREENWOOD and DANA LUEBKE
a SUN.ERGOS, A COMPANY OF THEATRE AND DANCE production
e-mail: [email protected] Visit our web-site: www.sunergos.com
Design by Robert Greenwood Photos by Kevin Oke, Pender Island Logo Design by McKim Advertising Ltd. Printed in Canada by SECentris
SUN.ERGOS, A COMPANY OF THEATRE AND DANCE“Working Together” - Moving the Human Spirit
founded in CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1977
SUN.ERGOS MAY BE CONTACTED THROUGH THE WALTER MOKE ARTS AGENCY, TEL: 1-800-743-3351 FAX: 403-931-1534FUNDED IN PART BY ALBERTA LOTTERIES, ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, ALBERTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
from THE BROOMand LEGEND OF JUMPING MOUSE
"SUN.ERGOS'S DOUBLE BILLLAUDABLE"
"SUN.ERGOS' new show…link[s] thecultures of Southeast Asia andnative North American through theuniversality of folklore. [Greenwoodand Luebke] revel…in the variety ofcharacterizations the talesoffer…with relish."THE CALGARY HERALD
FOR GRADES 1 - 6, 4 - 9 LENGTH: 50-MINUTES, PLUS 10-MINUTE QUESTION PERIOD
SPECIAL CURRICULUM APPLICATIONS: Folklore, story-telling, mask-work, pantomime, role-playing, physical awareness, multi-culturalism, social studies, music, language arts
FESTIVAL AND GENERAL AUDIENCE VERSION IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN ONE-HOUR OR 90-MINUTEPRESENTATION (WITH 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION FOR GENERAL AUDIENCES)
BANYAN AND BUFFALO is a comparison of legends and folk-tales from thecultures of Southeast Asia with those of North American Indians. Usingwonderful textures, brightly colored sarongs, handsome tapestries, exoticmusic from culture much older than those of the West, Robert Greenwoodand Dana Luebke re-create stories of grunting Thai boatmen, Kings,potbellied Vietnamese usurers, Balinese simpletons, wise Ghost Chiefs,coyotes, eagles, jealous medicine men, giants and mosquitoes -- allcharacters that illuminate the human spirit and who are relevant to ourown society today. The show provides laughter and wisdom in equaldollops of good humour and touching, thought-provoking moments.
"This colourful and charming show of stories, legends and dances [is] an entertain for thewhole family…hilarious [and] priceless."
THE SUNDAY INTERNATIONAL, Calgary, Alberta
from THE KING AND THE BOATMANand THE CREATOR’S GIFT
IINNFFOORRMMAATTIIOONN SSHHEEEETT
SSuuggggeessttiioonnss ffoorr sseelllliinngg ttoo yyoouurr ccoommmmuunniittyy
TITLE OF SHOW: BANYAN AND BUFFALOLENGTH OF SHOW(S): 50-minutes, plus 10-minutes for Question PeriodTECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS: [see enclosed tech sheet]
THEME [describe in one sentence]: The common and different heritages of Southeast Asia and NorthAmerican Native cultures that resonate human chords in all of us.
CONTENT [brief description of pieces in show]: The first half of BANYAN AND BUFFALO is a compilation ofstories and legends from Indonesia, Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Kampuchea. While the second half is a series oflegends from the Lakota, Pima, Blackfoot, Tlinglit. The stories have been chosen to give a wide variety of cul-tural backgrounds, but to bear witness to the similarities in all cultures. The tone of the first half is folksy andearthy. In the second half, running through Coyote’s hilarious antics is a more profound and thoughtful viewof humanity, but still witness its sense of humour. The Trickster plays a large role in the development of cul-tural humour, be he the wily Coyote, the fat, money-grubbing Usurer or the cunning Spider-Man, as does thefool, like the block-head Belog or the grumbling Boatman. But there are thought-pieces, too. The sadness of“Where the Buffalo Go” and the beauty of “The Creator’s Gift”, the lesson of Karta whose greed is repaid in fullby “The Queen of the Sea” and the foiling of the Robbers in “The Pot of Gold”, all these and more create a won-derful adventure of unusual and exotic stories that linger in the memory.
GOAL [what is the purpose of this show]: To show that all cultures have similar values, similar feelings andideas, needs and wants and that humour and human values of each culture are what saves them and allowsthem to develop and grow.
POINT OF VIEW OF ARTISTS [brief description]: As they have travelled around the world, Bob and Danahave become more and more aware that, even though cultural differences are strong and often lead to great divi-siveness. It is the haunting similarities that make human resonances wherever they go. All people understandkindness, beauty, greed, cruelty, anger, frustration, the need to cry, the need to laugh, and it is essential thatthe universality of the human experience be celebrated and never forgotten. The idea of the show came to Boband Dana while they were in Bali at the Canti Dasa Ashram. They notice a striking similarity between the Vedicscriptures and prayers that were chanted four times a day and the Lakota prayers said to the Four Directionsduring the sweat lodge and vision-seeking ceremonies. Why not combine the stories of these two cultures intoone performance?
CLASSIFICATION [i.e.: ADULT, FESTIVAL, FAMILY, YOUNG AUDIENCE]: Festival and Family, 6 year andup.
PRESENTATION [skills used to present show]: The stage is hung with erosion-cloth which resembles the rootsof the banyan tree of Southeast Asia, with a coyote pelt and wall-hangings and rugs from Sumba and Suliwesi,Indonesia, and from the Navajo of the Two-Grey Hills Reserve and patterned with light shining through jungleleaves and the spare branches of trees and the tall grasses that grow on the prairies of North America. It is arichly textured visual world of earth tones, muted maroons, indigo and root-dyes. The costumes for the firstpart of the performance are all made of fabrics from Singapore, Indonesia, India and Bali, glittering with goldenembroidery, glowing with crimson, turquoise, saffron silks. Several characters are portrayed through the use ofcarved, wooden masks from the countries of their stories. And, in the Native legends, great war-bonnets, proudcoup-sticks, fawn-like costumes patterned with black and red designs of the Blackfoot, the Cayuga, the Ojibwacreate an atmosphere of wonderment and oaf the long ago and far away. There is no dance in this productionper se, but movement plays a very strong role in the development of story lines and character traits, and vocalskills add to the rich variety and colour of BANYAN AND BUFFALO.
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TARGET AUDIENCE [i.e.: Seniors, multi-cultural groups, etc.]: Festival and Family audiences have greatly enjoyed this production. There is a more gentle, quiet atmosphere to many of these stories which appeal to fam-ilies that still like to do things together. While adults roar with laughter and really get the messages, the chil-dren love the colour, the characters and the lively movement. It is a bright, colourful, rich-looking show thatreally has intrigued its audiences and left them with a whole new experience in theatre and story-telling.
CAST [see Bios]: Robert Greenwood (actor) and [Mr.] Dana Luebke (dancer-actor)
LANGUAGE(S) IN WHICH SHOW IS PERFORMED: English
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS AVAILABLE:Poster blanksColoured slidesBlack and White photosColour photosPreview articlesReviews
WHERE SHOW HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY PERFORMED OR WORLD PREMIERE, ETC.: BANYAN ANDBUFFALO was first premiered in Calgary, Alberta, during Sun.Ergos, A Company of Theatre and Dance,Subscription Seasons. The show was a centre-piece of a one-week residency at Holy Family School inEdmonton, Alberta, has played as part of Fort Calgary’s Performance Series, at SUNSHINE THEATRE inKelowna, B. C., in THE FESTIVAL FOR YOUNG PEOPLE in Kowloon, Hong Kong, Victoria and as the openingperformance of INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEEK in Medicine Hat, Alberta.
REFERENCES FOR SHOW:Marie Whelan, Principal, HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL, Edmonton, AlbertaGeorge L. Palmer, Director-Designer, Calgary, AlbertaGreg Tuck, Artistic Director, SUNSHINE THEATRE, Kelowna, British Columbia
WORDS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED TO DESCRIBE THE SHOW:quality, folk-lore, universality, hilarious, skilled, remarkable, colourful, charming, priceless, memorable, profession-al, entertaining
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR MATERIALS, PLEASE CONTACT:
Administrative AssistantSUN.ERGOS, A COMPANY OF THEATRE AND DANCE130 Sunset WayPriddis, Alberta, CANADA T0L 1W0
TEL 403-931-1527 TOLL FREE 1-800-743-3351FAX 403-931-1534e-mail: [email protected]
1. Sun.Ergos requires the gymnasium or performance space to be clear of equipmentand the floor to be clean upon arrival.
Two hoursSet-up Time Required:
One hourTake-out Time Required:
Performing Area Required:
Access to a staff washroom and mirror is all that is required.Dressing Area Required:
One 110-volt circuit for soundsystem.
Electrical Requirements:
One table approx. 1.2m (4')L x0.6m (2')W for sound equip.
Enough chairs for school staffand guests.
Benches for older students (ifavailable).
Other Requirements:
Two - three helpers are required, ready to assist Sun.Ergosupon arrival at the school to unload and set up. The samehelpers are required to assist in packing up after theperformance.
Helpers:
2. The space must be free of all other activity during set up and take out. Absolutelyno use of gym equipment or balls!
BANYAN AND BUFFALO
Technical Requirements for School Performances
Contact: 1-800-743-3351
Sun.Ergos performs on the gymnasium or community hallfloor and requires a minimum performing area of 11m (36')W x8m (26')D x 3.6m (12')H. Refer to the scale plan on thereverse for details of seating and set-up. Sprung, woodenfloor preferred to reduce potential injury to performers.
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10 V
olt c
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1' and 2' pylons
6' and 8' book-flats
Bose speakers
Sun.Ergos set-up for banyan and buffalo in school gyms
1' 3' 12' 24'
0.5m 1m 4m 8mSCALESCALE
Students seated on floor, Chairs for teachers
Benches for oldest students where available
Table or two desks provided by school
Tab
le fo
rS
ound
Table forSound
ROBERT GREENWOOD and DANA LUEBKE
a SUN.ERGOS, A COMPANY OF THEATRE AND DANCE production
e-mail: [email protected] Visit our web-site: www.sunergos.com
Design by Robert Greenwood Photos by Robert Greenwood Logo Design by McKim Advertising Ltd. Printed in Canada by SECentris
SUN.ERGOS, A COMPANY OF THEATRE AND DANCE“Working Together” - Moving the Human Spirit
founded in CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1977
SUN.ERGOS MAY BE CONTACTED THROUGH THE WALTER MOKE ARTS AGENCY, TEL: 1-800-743-3351 FAX: 403-931-1534FUNDED IN PART BY ALBERTA LOTTERIES, ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, ALBERTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
presents
withROBERT GREENWOOD and DANA LUEBKE
THIS PERFORMANCE IS DEDICATED TO IBU GEDONG OKA OF ÇANTI DASA ASHRAM, BALI, INDONESIA,AND TO THE MEMORY OF FRANCES FRASER, OF HIGH RIVER, ALBERTA, BA THAKKAR OF SURAT, INDIA,
AND PETER T'SANG OF EDMONTON, ALBERTA
[FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - SELECTIONS TAKEN FROM THE FOLLOWING]
OVERTURE - VIETNAMESE SINGING
Traditional story from ThailandTHE KING, THE BOATMAN AND THE MINISTER
Traditional story from VietnamTHE JAR
Traditional story from BaliTHE BROOM
INTERLUDE - INDIAN SINGING
THE KACHINA BOXTraditional story from the Zuni
COYOTE, IKTOME AND IYA THE ROCKTraditional story from the White River Lakota
THE BEAR WHO STOLE THE CHINOOKTraditional story from the Blackfoot as retold by Frances Fraser
With permission of the Estate of Frances Fraser
SUN.ERGOS wishes to express it thanks to Ibu Gedong Oka, the Çanti Dasa Ashram, to Peter T'Sangand to the villagers of Tangenan, Bali, and to Frank and Gordie Fraser of High River, Alberta
Sarong, Ubend, Lungi from Bali and Singapore Balinese shirts and Indian Costumes by Carol CaseTapestries from Suliwesi and Tsumba, Indonesia Navajo rugs from the Two Grey Hills Reserve
Feathered Headdresses from Carol Smith, The Glenbow Museum
SUN.ERGOS, an Equity Co-operative, is a registered, non-profit organization performing underthe jurisdiction of Canadian Actors' Equity Association
NO CAMERAS OR RECORDING DEVICES ARE PERMITTED
SUN.ERGOS reserves the right to alter the programme without noticeALL RIGHTS TO THIS MATERIAL ARE RESERVED
e-mail: [email protected] Visit our web-site: www.sunergos.com
SUN.ERGOS MAY BE CONTACTED THROUGH THE WALTER MOKE ARTS AGENCY, TEL: 1-800-743-3351 FAX: 403-931-1534FUNDED IN PART BY ALBERTA LOTTERIES, ALBERTA FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS, ALBERTA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT